'Law and Order' Casts: Then & Now

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In the criminal justice system, sexually based offenses are considered especially heinous. In New York City, the dedicated detectives who investigate these vicious felonies are members of an elite squad known as the Special Victims Unit. Keep clicking for their stories. —XFINITY Entertainment Staff (Photo by NBC)

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Detective Odafin "Fin" Tutuola, a former narcotics detective, is partners with Det. John Munch on the Special Victims Unit. Tutuola is reserved and rarely speaks about his personal life, but his belief in the law is undeniable. —XFINITY Entertainment Staff (Photo by NBC)

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Ice-T, born Tracy Marrow, served in the United States Army for four years before starting a career as a rapper. After releasing several albums including "Rhyme Pays" and "O.G.: Original Gangster," Ice-T landed the role of NYPD Detective Odafin Tutuola on "Law & Order: SVU" in 2000. He also starred alongside wife Coco on the E! reality series "Ice Loves Coco." —XFINITY Entertainment Staff (Photos by Michael Parmelee/NBC, Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

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Detective Olivia "Liv" Benson worked alongside Elliot Stabler for 12 years before his sudden resignation from the force. Benson is tough, but also sympathizes with victims and takes many cases personally. She struggles emotionally after nearly becoming a rape victim herself, but attempts to hide her emotions from her co-workers. She is currently the SVU's acting commanding officer. —XFINITY Entertainment Staff (Photo by NBC)

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Mariska Hargitay, the daughter of legendary actress Jayne Mansfield, has won an Emmy and Golden Globe for her portrayal of Detective Olivia Benson, a role that she still plays today. Hargitay wed Peter Hermann, a recurring guest star on the show, in 2004. The pair welcomed a son named August in 2006 and have since adopted two children. —XFINITY Entertainment Staff (Photos by Michael Parmelee/NBC, Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images)

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In addition to being a doctor, George Huang is a federal agent who eventually becomes the forensic psychiatrist and criminal profiler for Manhattan's Special Victims Unit. Dr. Huang currently works in Oklahoma City, but returns to New York city sporadically in order to help with important cases. —XFINITY Entertainment Staff (Photo by NBC)

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Wong announced his decision to leave "Law & Order: SVU" in 2011 in order to join the cast of the short-lived series "Awake." Following the show's cancellation last year, the actor reprised his role as Dr. George Huang. The openly gay actor is set to star in the upcoming movies "Focus" and "Jurassic World." —XFINITY Entertainment Staff (Photos by Michael Parmelee/NBC, Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

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Dr. Melinda Warner, a medical examiner who works for Manhattan's Special Victims Unit, provides the force with vital medical clues and forensic information. Warner previously served as a doctor in the U.S. Air Force, a gig that taught her valuable, on-the-spot medical lessons. She is a married, has one daughter and a dog. —XFINITY Entertainment Staff (Photo by NBC)

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In addition to her current role on "Law & Order: SVU," actress Tamara Tunie is most famous for her former part as Jessica Griffin on the CBS soap opera "As the World Turns." Tunie has also branched out onto the big screen with roles in 2012's "Missed Connections" and "Flight." —XFINITY Entertainment Staff (Photos by Will Hart/NBC, Daniel Zuchnik/Getty Images)

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Captain Donald Cragen was promoted to captain of the department's Special Victims Unit. Cragen, a recovering alcoholic, served in the Vietnam War before joining the police force. He is a huge fan of the New York Mets. —XFINITY Entertainment Staff (Photo by NBC)

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Dann Florek appeared as Captain Donald Cragen on the series since 1999, and departed the show on January 15, 2014. He resides in Venice, California with his wife and appears on the big screen sporadically. His most recent films include 2006's "Copy That" and 2013's "Santorini Blue." —XFINITY Entertainment Staff (Photos by Michael Parmelee/NBC, Jemal Countess/Getty Images)

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Casey Novak joined the Manhattan DA's office in 2001. She is the longest serving ADA in the entire "Law & Order" franchise thanks to her ability to hide her emotions and her 71 percent prosecution success rate. —XFINITY Entertainment Staff (Photo by NBC)

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Diane Neal parted ways with "Law & Order: SVU" at the end of the show's ninth season amid rumors that she was fired from the series. She returned to her role as Casey Novak in 2011 as a recurring character in season 13. She has also recently appeared on episodes of "NCIS" and "Suits." —XFINITY Entertainment Staff (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)

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Detective Elliot "El" Stabler works as an NYPD detective with Manhattan's 16th Precinct. He works alongside Detective Olivia Benson in order to investigate sex crimes that occur in the city. Stabler, who is married with five children, is known for having an intense dedication to the job – a trait that often interferes with his personal life. He is eventually placed on administrative leave for shooting and killing a young woman who attacks the Special Victims squad. As a result of his suspension, Stabler decides to leave the force for good. —XFINITY Entertainment Staff (Photo by NBC)

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After 12 years on "Law and Order: SVU" and an Emmy nomination for his role, Christopher Meloni said goodbye to the series in 2011. The actor's more recent gigs include a stint as vampire Roman on "True Blood" and as U.S. Air Force Colonel Nathan Hardy in "Man of Steel." Last year, he appeared in the movie "Sin City: A Dame to Kill For." —XFINITY Entertainment Staff (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)

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In the television crime show system, actors who play police officers and lawyers are considered especially interesting. In Hollywood, the dedicated stars who play these parts are members of an elite squad known as the cast of "Law & Order." Keep clicking to see what they're up to today. —XFINITY Entertainment Staff (Photo by NBC)

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After working as a lawyer for 24 years, attorney Jack McCoy landed the job of Executive Assistant District Attorney of New York City. He is known for his ruthless — often hostile, tactics — which earn him the nickname "Hang 'em High McCoy." Though tough in the courtroom, McCoy struggles in his personal life as a result of being abused by a racist father. McCoy often embarks in inappropriate romantic relationships with his ADAs. —XFINITY Entertainment Staff (Photo by NBC)

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Sam Waterston, the second-longest serving "Law & Order" cast member in series history, picked up multiple Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for his role as Jack McCoy. He remained with the show through its cancellation in 2010, and has stayed active in Hollywood ever since. The actor recently appeared as cable news president Charlie Skinner on the HBO series "The Newsroom." —XFINITY Entertainment Staff (Photo by Mark Davis/Getty Images)

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Ed Green originally joined the NYPD as Lennie Briscoe's junior partner after Rey Curtis was forced to leave the squad. Unlike Curtis, Green has no problem bending the law in order to catch a criminal. He is known for his love of punk rock and gambling, hobbies that he is often teased about. —XFINITY Entertainment Staff (Photo by NBC)

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Jesse L. Martin, who is perhaps best known for being the first actor to ever star as Tom Collins in the Broadway theatrical production of "Rent," most recently guest starred on several episodes of the now-canceled series "Smash," and appears on the new CW series "The Flash." —XFINITY Entertainment Staff (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

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John Munch first appeared on the small screen on the NBC series "Homicide: Life on the Street," where he worked as a detective in the Baltimore Police Department's Homicide unit. He eventually moved to Manhattan and began working on the Special Victim's Unit. He is partnered with Odafin Tutuola, with whom he shares a mutual respect despite a rocky start to their relationship. —XFINITY Entertainment Staff (Photo by NBC)

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Richard Belzer played Detective Munch on eight different television series, including "Homicide: Life on the Street," "Law & Order," "The X-Files," "The Beat," "Law & Order: Trial by Jury," "Arrested Development," "The Wire" and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit." Belzer finally retired the role late last year, but continues to work as a stand-up comedian. —XFINITY Entertainment Staff (Photos by Virginia Sherwood/NBC, Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images)

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Lieutenant Anita Van Buren succeeded Captain Don Cragen as commander of the 27th Precinct Detective Squad. She is notorious for her toughness, but is sometimes a little too quick to react. In the later seasons of the show, Van Buren is diagnosed with cervical cancer and forced to undergo chemotherapy treatments. —XFINITY Entertainment Staff (Photo by NBC)

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Mike Logan, known for his hot temper and promiscuous lifestyle, works as a detective in New York City. The outspoken New Yorker is notorious for his unwavering hate of lawyers. After punching a homophobic politician, Logan is transferred from Manhattan Homicide to the Staten Island Domestic Disputes squad. —XFINITY Entertainment Staff (Photo by NBC)

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After being dismissed from the show in 1995 over a salary dispute, Noth went on to star as Big on the critically acclaimed HBO series "Sex and the City." He currently stars as Peter Florrick on the CBS show "The Good Wife." —XFINITY Entertainment Staff (Photo by Mike Pont/Getty Images)

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Reynaldo "Rey" Curtis works as a homicide detective in Manhattan's 27th Detective Squad under Lennie Briscoe. The politically conservative Catholic is known for always following the rules. After his wife is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, Curtis is eventually forced to leave the squad in order to care for her. —XFINITY Entertainment Staff (Photo by NBC)

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In addition to his role on "Law & Order," Benjamin Bratt is best known for starring roles in films including "Miss Congeniality" and "Traffic." He has been married to actress Talisa Soto for over a decade. Bratt most recently portrayed Dr. Jake Riley on "Private Practice," Javier Delgado on "Modern Family" and Steve Navarro on "24: Live Another Day." —XFINITY Entertainment Staff (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

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Arthur Branch, a Yale graduate and former Yale professor, was elected the Manhattan District Attorney in 2002. The conservative is known to battle it out with liberal Jack McCoy in the courtroom thanks to their conflicting political views. —XFINITY Entertainment Staff (Photo by NBC)

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Fred Dalton Thompson isn't just an actor. He has worked as an attorney, radio host and former Senator. In addition to representing the state of Tennessee in the U.S. Senate from 1994 to 2003, Thompson served as chairman of the International Security Advisory Board at the U.S. Department of State. He took a break from "Law & Order" in 2008 to run for president on the Republican ticket, but was unable to secure enough support and ended up dropping out of the race. He recently appeared on two episodes of "The Good Wife," and had roles in two indie films last year. —XFINITY Entertainment Staff (Photo by Stephen Cohen/Getty Images)

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Over the course of his career, Jerry Orbach, a renowned musical theater star, appeared on stage in "Chicago," "42 Street," "The Fantasticks" and "Promises, Promises," for which he took home a Tony Award. Orbach passed away in 2004 at the age of 69 after a battle with prostate cancer. —XFINITY Entertainment Staff (Photos by NBC/Getty Images)

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After graduating from the police academy in the 1990s, Detective Alex Eames moved up the ranks in the force and secures a job as a detective with Manhattan's Major Case Squad. Eames, who is partnered with Bobby Goren, is known for her reliable and practical investigation techniques. She is eventually promoted to lieutenant and often works with the Homeland Security Task Force. —XFINITY Entertainment Staff (Photo by NBC)

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Following her time on "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," Kathryn Erbe appeared in a number of movies such as 2011's "The Love Guide" and "Mother's House." In addition, the actress has reprised the part of Detective Alexandra Eames on several episodes of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit." —XFINITY Entertainment Staff (Photo by Mike McGregor/Getty Images)

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Detective Bobby Goren works as a detective investigator for the Major Case Squad in the New York City Police Department. Goren, who is known for his unpredictable nature, works alongside Det. Alexandra Eames. —XFINITY Entertainment Staff (Photo by NBC)

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After leaving "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," D'Onofrio appeared in several films such as 2009's "Staten Island" and 2012's "Fire with Fire." He joined the cast of the off-Broadway production "Clive" in 2012, and is currently working on several films, including "Jurassic World." —XFINITY Entertainment Staff (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images)

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Assistant District Attorney Ron Carver is notorious for demanding hard evidence in each and every case. His strict views often lead to feuds with the detectives, but he is well respected thanks to his hard work. —XFINITY Entertainment Staff (Photo by NBC)

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Vance has been married to actress Angela Bassett since 1997. The pair welcomed twins, son Slater Josiah Vance and daughter Bronwyn Golden Vance, in 2006. The actor's upcoming projects include a role in the movie "Terminator: Genisys," which opens in July. —XFINITY Entertainment Staff (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

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Captain James Deakins supervises New York City's Major Case Squad, which includes detectives such as Robert Goren and Alexandra Eames. He leaves the force after his tenure is tainted by a scandal involving former police officer Frank Adair. —XFINITY Entertainment Staff (Photo by NBC)

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After his "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" days came to an end, Sheridan landed the part of Vice President William Walden on the Showtime series "Homeland." The father-of-three currently has a recurring role on the CW series "Arrow." —XFINITY Entertainment Staff (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

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